Lubricant compressor



O. U. ZERK LUBRICANT COMPRESSOR Filed Jan. 24

i 'Patented oct. 1s, "1927.`

UNITED STATES 1,645,890. PATENT OFFICE- OSCAR U. ZEBK, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO BASSICK ALEMITE CORPO- BATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LUBRICANT comrnnsson.

Application :tiled January 24, 1925. Serial No. 4,514.

My invention relates to improvements in lubricant compressors, and is particularly concerned with the provision of a novel type of compressor adapted to form a part of a lubricating system that comprises a plurality of ttings and a compressor for successively making sealed Contact with these fittings and forcing lubricant, under high pressure, into them.

The objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a compressor comprlsing a barrel or low pressure cylinder for holding a substantial quantity of lubricant, a high pressure cylinder of comparatively small capacity, and means for displacing the lubricant from the high pressure cylinder.

Second, to provide a compressor, such as described, with novel means for insuring the priming or refilling ofthe high pressure 2K0 cylinder after each discharge,` of lubricant therefrom.

Third, to provide a compressor, such as described, in which the high pressure cylinder reciprocates relatively to the low pressure cylinder, and in which novel means are rovided for preventing leakage along the io'h pressure cylinder; and

Fourth, to provide a compressor, such as described, that is simple in constructlon,

economical to manufacture and easy to operate.

Other objects of my invention will appear as this description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal section through one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of 'Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a modied embodiment of my invention.

Throughout the several views similar reference charactersare used for referring to similar parts.

The embodiment of, my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a barrel, or low pressure cylinder, 5 having a cap 6 at one end that is removably secured thereto through the instrumentality of inclined cam surfaces 7, pressed outwardly from the open end of the barrel, that are adapted to be engaged by lugs 8, pressed inwardly from the flange of the cap.

The opposite end of the barrel 5 is provided with an end piece 9 that tapers outwardly so that it terminates in a reduced end portion 10. This reduced end portion is internally threaded to receive the inner exteriorly threadedend of the guide sleeve 11. A high pressure cylinder 12 is reciprocably mounted in the guide sleeve 11 and carries, at its outer end, a nozzle or contact member 13 that has a substantially spherical depression in its outer face adapted to contact with and make sealedconnection with fittings such as illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 1,475,980 that was anted in my name December 4, 1923. ball check valve 15 is vieldingly held against the outer end of the high pressure cylinder by means of a compression" spring 16.

The guide tube 11 is counterb'ored through a portion of its length to provide an annular space 17 between it and the high pressure cylinder. Packing rings 18 are placed in the outervportion of this annular space and a conical follower 19 rests against the inner packing ring. compression sprin 20, confined between the follower 19 an the inturned flange 21 at the inner end of the guide sleeve, provides means for yieldingly urging the packing toward the outer end of the guide sleeve and thus maintaining the sealing relation to the high pressure cylinder.

The means for discharging the lubricant from the high pressure cylinder comprises the plunger 22 that is supported at its inner end by the conical septum or s ider 23 that has a pluralitv of openings 24 ormed therein, through which the lubricant can pass. A compression spring 25, confined between the septum 23 and a washer 26 secured to the inner end of the high pressure cylinder, provides means for yieldingly urgingt'he high pressure cylinder to its outermost position.

In order to insure the priming or refilling of the high pressure cylinder after each discharge of lubricant therefrom, I provide the threaded piston rod 27 that is rotatably 100 mounted in the cap or end piece 6 and provided at its outer end with a handle 28, preferably formed of rubber or some other moulded composition. A'collar 29, confined between the cap 6 and the handle 2,8, pre- 10o vents longitudinal movement of the piston rod 27 in one direction, and a washer 30, .resting upon the shoulder 3l, formed on the piston rod and confined between this shouldei` and the inner face of the cap 6, prevents 110 longitudinal movement of the the opposite direction. The piston rod 27 carries al piston P, comprising the face plate 32, the cup leather 33, the follower plate .34 and the intermediate disc 35 of cork, i'bre, leather, or other suitable material. These members are provided with registering central openings in which is inserted the sleeve 36, having the liange 37 at one'end for engaging the follower plate 34, andthe out-turned flange 38 at the opposite end, for engaging the face plate 32. The piston rod 27 and the sleeve 36 Iare provided with co-acting screwthreads that are preferably lefthanded s o that the operator, by holding the handle 28 in his right hand piston rod in and rotating the barrel of the compressor with his left hand, can'easily force the piston toward thel hi h pressure cylinder, thereby placing the 1u ricant in the barrel or -low pressurecylinder under very conslderable pressure, although not suficient to open the check valve 15'. Preferably, the elements forming the piston P are held together by meansof rivets 39.

In the use of my improved compressor', the cap 6, the piston rod and'piston are re- 'moved and the barrel is substantially completely filled with lubricant. The cap, the piston and the piston rod are then replaced and the operator, by rotating the barrel rel-y atively to the piston rod, can orce'the pistoninwardly so as to place l'the lubricant in the 'barrel under comparatively high pressure. 4The nozzle or contact piece 13 is then brought into sealing relation with a littlng and the operator exerts a pressure upon the handle 28 in the direction of the fitting, that causes the plunger 22 to enter the high pressure cylinder and discharge the lubrlcant therefrom into the fitting. When the plunger 22 has completed its stroke, the operator releases the pressure upon the handle 2 8 and permits the compressor barrel and handle to move away from the fitting, under the tension of the spring 25. The lubricant in the barrel will still be under considerable pressure and will pass into the high pressure 'cylinder as soon as the end of the plunger has uncovered the inner end of this cylinder. If ity is desired to force more lubricant through the fitting, the operator repeats the operation described above as many tlmes as required.

In filling the compressor with lubricant, a certain amount of air will be entrapped therewith, and when the piston P is actuated to place pressure upon the lubricant in the barrel or low pressure cylinder, this air will be compressed and will furnish the expansive foree'necessary for refilling the high pressure cylinder. In this manner the high pressure cylinder cany be primed or refilled several times before it becomes necessary again to turn the barrel relatively to the y between the guide sleeve and the high presadaptations and modifications within inthe low pressure cylin er under pressure.

The thread of the'piston rod is of comparatively steep pitch, thereby accomplishing two l"results, first, -it prevents the.easy development of unduly high pressure in the low pressure cylinder thatmight otherwise open thevalve 15 and permit the loss of lubricant, and second, it enables the operator quickly to move the piston P into pressure contact'with the lubricant. l

Inorder to further prevent the development of excessive pressures in the low pressure cylinder, I prefer to make it. of large diameter as compared with thediameter of the high Apressure cylinder 12, or rather, in comparison to the area of the checkvvalve 15 exposed to the pressure of the lubricant. It will be 'understood that the tension' of the spring 16'will alsol vdetermine the pressure that can be developed in the low pressureV barrel without openingthe check valve 15. It will be noted that there is a space between the inner end o f the high 4pressure cylinder and the inturned flange 21 on the guide sleeve that permits lubricant. ressure to be exerted upon the rear o the packing rings 18, so that4 the pressure of the lubricant itself assists in sealing the joint sure cylinder.

That form' of `exception that the piston P is secured 'to the inner end of the-piston rod 27' which my invention illustrated i v .Figure 3 is similar to the one just described,

is reduced in diameter, as shown at 27,

and headed, as shown at 27, to hold the elements of the piston in assembled relation on the inner end of the compressor. I-Iere I have shown the piston rod 27 as being provided with a right-handed screwthread which will function satisfactorily, although it is not as handy to operate as a p istor provided with a leftshanded screwt rea l The invention dieeieeed end eieimed herein is a modilication of the invention disclosed and broadly claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 649,704, filed July 5, 1923.

While I have described the details of construction of. the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be clearly understood that my invention is not limited to these details of construction, but is capable ,of othler t e scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A1. A lubricant compressor comprising a .barrel having a removable end piece at one end and an end piece at the other end having a portion of reduced diameter, a guide sleeve secured in said portion of reduced diameter, a cylinder reciprocable in said guide sleeve and terminating in a contact piece, a spring for urging said cylinder outwardly, said guide sleeve having a counter-bore forming an annular space around said cylinder, packing in said annular space, a spring confined in said annular space for urging said packing toward one end of said annular space, a plunger carried by said barrel for displacing the contents of said cylinder, a piston rod rotatably mounted in said removable end piece, and held against longitudinal movement, said piston rod having a left-handed threadof coarse pitch, a iston threaded on said piston rod, and a han le for the outer end of said piston rod.

2. A lubricant compressor comprising a barrel having a removable end piece at one end and an end piece at the other end having a portion of reduced diameter, a guide sleeve secured in said portion of reduced diameter,

Va cylinder reciprocable in said guide sleeve and terminating in a contact piece, a spring for urging said cylinder outwardly, a plunger carried by said barrel for displacing the contents of said cylinder, a piston rod rotatabl mounted in said removable end piece an held against longitudinal movement, said piston rod having a left handed thread of course pitch, a piston threaded on said Wardly, a` plunger carrie by saidpbarrel for displacing the contents of said cylinder, 'a piston rod rotatably mounted in said removable end piece and held against longitudinal movement, a. piston threaded on said piston rod, and a handle for the o'uter end of said piston rod.

4. A lubricant compressor comprisinV a barrel having an end piece at each end, a guide sleeve secured to one end piece, a cylinderreciprocable in said guide sleeve and terminating in a contact piece, a plunger carried by said barrel for displacing the contents of said cylinder, a piston rod rotatably mounted in said removable end piece,- a piston operated by rotation of said piston rod, and a handle for the outerend of said piston rod.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th da of January, 1925. SCAR U. ZERK. 

